Univ of Texas wants to move statues of Civil War leaders

fifer

This article I think might be best here. Now, who is bowing to whom (PC) trying to keep things diversified instead of leaving these statues as they are? :?

5/12/2004 9:49 PM
By: James Keith

University of Texas President Larry Faulkner announced this week a plan to make UT a more welcoming place for minorities.

One suggestion calls for moving statues of Confederate War icons. Seven statues of Confederate and Union leaders are scattered throughout UT's south mall. They've been that way since the 1920s.

But the statues' sculptor, an Italian-born Texas artist named Pompeo Coppini, originally planned for them all to be together.

"His idea was to bring the president of the surviving Union, Woodrow Wilson, who was President of the first World War with the president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, and bring together without lines of division," Faulkner said.

A lack of funding kept Coppini from completing the project.

"Now no one knows why Woodrow Wilson is there, why Jefferson Davis is there. It becomes like a shrine to the individual," Faulkner said.

Faulkner wants to finish what Coppini couldn't. He envisions one central monument around the Littlefield Fountain, which would require each statue be uprooted and moved.

UT officials want to move statues of Civil War leaders to unify a diverse campus.

"Moving historical monuments for the sake of moving those monuments is not appropriate," Mike Mannon of Sons of Confederate Veterans said.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans want the university to leave the statues alone. Members feel each statue represents its own unique history.

"I believe the true definition of diversity is to encourage people from all walks of life to celebrate their culture and heritage and to a lot of us, this is an important part of our culture and heritage," Mannon said.

Student government leaders said the current arrangement of individual statues is offensive.

"They do not put UT in the best light with Jefferson Davis right down from the tower, one of the most prominent figures, next to Washington. That's not what UT is about. We do need to make a change," UT Student Government president Brent Chaney said.

School administrators will study the feasibility of moving the statues, and a final decision could be made this summer.

Any decision would have to be approved by the UT Board of Regents.

Administrators plan to have architects and landscapers look at each statue before deciding.

Officials admit it's a tough choice as they continue looking for ways to unify a diverse campus while preserving its historical past.

Slug

The General · Living Legend Joined: Feb 08, 2004 Posts: 2794

Slug,

Amen. I've long been a firm believer in the doctrine of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Eric
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"If you want to have some fun, jine the cav'ry!"

James_Longstreet · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject:

Ditto here...
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I Remain
Your Ob't Servant
Allan
Time sets all things right. Error lives but a day. Truth is eternal.
A Great Civilization is not Conquered from Without until It has Destroyed Itself from Within

AmandaLynn · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:11 am Post subject:

Kershaw · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:21 pm Post subject:

I also agree.......leave them alone and focus on what they represent. HISTORY! It brought us to where we are today.
Jackie

GKWEAGLE1 · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:47 pm Post subject:

I find myself asking ..., Ok why not LEAVE well enough alone!!!!!
Who the he double toothpicks is it hurting? Its OUR history!!!!!!

Sighhhhhh
Jim
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"The Flag, THE FLAG, Oh THE FLAG! G.K. Warrens last words on his death bed, August 8,1882
There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell. W.T. Sherman